Despite Call To Resume Plenary, NASS Extends Recess By 2 Weeks

• Lawmakers give no reason for the development

Despite strident call to halt its recess in order to attend to topical issues that need legislative input, the national assembly has announced extension of its break by two weeks.

The federal lawmakers suspended legislative activities for their annual recess on July 23 and were expected to resume plenary on September 15.

However, in a notice to the lawmakers on Friday, Ojo Olatunde Amos, acting clerk of the national assembly, said plenary would resume on September 29.

No reason was given for the two-week extension.

The notice read “This is to inform all distinguished senators and honourable members of the national assembly that the resumption of plenary sessions earlier scheduled for Tuesday, 15th September, 2020, is hereby rescheduled for Tuesday, 29th September, 2020,” the acting clerk said in the notice.

“We regret any inconvenience caused by this change in date.”

The development is coming after a coalition of 39 civil society organisations (CSOs) has questioned the rationality behind lawmakers’ decision to go on a break.

They said the lawmaker actions contravened constitution.

“The legislative year is June 2019 to July 2020; two months vacation, 56 days public holiday, 6-week Yuletide vacation – 42 days, 7-week coronavirus break – 49 days, in addition to 62 days for Saturdays and Sunday. This means 216 days out of 365 days in a year,” the CSOs had said.

“Therefore, the national assembly sat for only 149 days instead of the 181 days prescribed by the constitution”